Are you part of the 60% of Americans with an unhealthy work-life balance? Well, you’re in luck —  I’m here to discuss the difficulties of maintaining a healthy balance between work, school and life. I’ll also give some input on how you can create a work-life balance that sets you up for success next term.

This term, I have struggled to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Something about having two jobs, working for the Daily Emerald and taking 20 credits didn’t seem too ambitious for me yet here we are. At Week 6, I remember having to work 20 hours over the weekend and being on the verge of tears because I felt so exhausted. I didn’t eat much that week, and it felt like I was never going to get to rest. 

I sometimes have to do homework on my breaks at one of my jobs when school work piles up. I expressed my concerns to my co-workers, and one of them named Domonique responded, “I’m glad that I’m not doing school anymore, f**k that.” 

Trying to maintain a healthy work-life and school balance can be arduous — leading to immense stress. To deal with all the chaos, try developing strategies to maintain a balance apart from school. OCC Coast Report Newspaper discussed ways their school counselors offer help to students struggling with mental health. Luna Reid’s report called “An impossible balance: Juggling school, work and mental health,” relayed a conversation with their Director of Mental Health Services Larry Valentine on mental health and work-life balance.

“I love good orientation and drive, but students who work full-time or those who have other obligations tend to be busier and forget the parts that make them who they are and what they enjoy. I like to ask students what their activities mean to them and why they do them,” Valentine said. 

A student from OCC also suggested creating personalized schedules for each week and preparing yourself for a work shift after school.

Asking other students about their input, Zoe Thomas, a sophomore attending the UO speaks on her work-life balance. “It took me a while to figure out how to balance work and school with my personal life and taking care of myself, and it’s something I still struggle with sometimes,” Thomas said. 

“I wasn’t involved that much in high school so coming to college and suddenly having to balance volunteer work, clubs and classes has been a lot. I’ve learned that it’s really important to take care of myself and spend time doing things I love with people I love so that I could do better when it comes to working instead of feeling burnt out,” Thomas said. 

Finding things that work for you is I believe – the single most important thing in ensuring that you are taking care of your priorities including yourself. I’ve noticed that creating a to-do list every day has helped me plan out my week. I usually write in my planner assignment due dates, when I work and other activities I have planned. 

Spacing out what I need to accomplish helps me calculate how busy a day will be. Knowing that my workload this term has been tremendously tiring, I decided to lighten my credit load next term and will only be working one job instead of two, making necessary accommodations to find the perfect work-life balance for myself. 

As a human being, I hate being stressed 24/7. I feel like I’ve lost control of my own life. Maintaining a good relationship between your responsibilites and work-life balance is crucial to ensuring your needs are fulfilled. I personally love filling out a planner to guarantee I don’t miss anything important and don’t forget deadlines. Planners have always given me a sort of safety net that enables me to stay on track. It’s important to listen to your body when it needs its rest. 

By organizing your schedule, talking to a therapist and making to-do lists, you can create a healthier work-life balance.